fromis_9 debuted back in 2018 and it has taken them one full contract over a five year period to finally release their 1st ever studio-length album. Unlock My World was released in early June this year and features the title track #menow and 9 additional side tracks. For me, fromis_9 is a group who has released multiple underappreciated gems over their half-a-decade-long careers, with tracks like DKDK, Love Bomb (still one of absolute favourite tracks of all time) and DM under their name. I found this album to be full of these gems as well! 4 of the side tracks earned a 10/10 rating from me and the rest of the tracks also earning a high rating as well. Keep on reading to find out which 4 tracks got a 10/10 rating and my thoughts on the rest of the long time coming album.

1. Attitude – fromis_9 begins their first studio album with a 180° change with a darker and mature sound in the form of Attitude, which feels miles away from what we have heard from the group thus far. I really like how this track turned out. Alluring and very sexy sounding. I enjoyed the synth work in this track, giving Attitude so much texture to work with. This is smoothed out by the members’ vocals, which glides and moves the song forward. I also enjoyed the lower notes and tones the members adopted in the track. It is a hard to forget track on this album. (10/10)

2. #menow (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for #menow. (8/10)

3. Wishlist – Jiwon and Chaeyoung come together to perform the first unit track on the album. Wishlist is a R&B all-English track. I like the messaging behind the lyrics – that you should not make yourself fit the ideals of another person (i.e., their wishlist) and that you should be yourself. The pair brings a vibrant tone to the mid-tempo R&B track, which helps makes Wishlist a bit more impactful. (8/10)

4. In the Mirror – In The Mirror is a dance pop track that features Seoyeon and Nagyung. It brings back the darker tones that the album kicked off with. The synth work is very atmospheric in In The Mirror, which helps makes it a captivating listen. The vocals were very nice, particularly during the choruses where the melodies literally felt like you were drifting along. The rapping is also a stilling moment in the track. While In The Mirror doesn’t exceed the expectations of Attitude, it definitely up there as one of my favourite side tracks from the album. (10/10)

5. Don’t Care – Don’t Care is one of tracks that really jump out with you instantly thanks to its groovy and funky synth work. It features Jiwon, Jisun, Seoyeon and Nagyung. With the tracks before it, I appreciate Don’t Care’s boldness and upbeatness, which is quite enjoyable. The beats do get bolder around the bridge (though the transition was a tad overwhelming). I like the members’ powerful tone and tenacity in Don’t Care, as well. All of this made for a strong listen. (9/10)

6. Prom Night – Saerom, Hayoung, Chaeyoung and Jiheon feature on the last unit track of the album. The pre-chorus was a very intriguing aspect of Prom Night and I liked the vividness of the bouncy aspect of the UK-garage synth-based background. But aside from that, Prom Night is the least interesting unit track to me. And it simply comes right back to the instrumentation, which I personally felt overpowered the members’ vocals in the chorus, sans that short push from Hayoung and Chaeyoung to rise above the instrumentation. (7/10)

7. Bring It On – Personally, I felt that Bring It On could have had a more vibrant pop instrumentation. I don’t think the R&B pop backing that Bring It On featured did the vocals justice. The hooks and melodies, and the vocals delivering them, were all catchy and a solid effort from the members. But the instrumentation wasn’t eventful as I wished for and turned an otherwise good showing into something bland and boring. (7/10)

8. What I Want – I will make the rating straight up. What I Want is another 10/10 track on this album. Everything in the track had me dancing along and there was never any weak moment. What I Want was a very interesting electro pop track that really caught my attention. The upbeat nature of the track was fun. The members’ vocals and delivery back it all in. I like the burst of energy in the chorus, which comes about by the combination of vocals and instrumentation, and that is my pick of highlight of the track. The hooks and melodies were all catchy and added to the fun listen. (10/10)

9. My Night Routine – My Night Routine softens and mellows out the energy that precedes it with another R&B track. I like the jazzy vibe of the instrumental, as well as the bass. The vocals are pleasant. Altogether, My Night Routine comes off as dreamy. (7.5/10)

10. Eye Contact (눈맞춤) – Unlock My World ends with a fun pop rock track that had me smiling throughout. I may have also danced along to this track as well. The energy of Eye Contact was very extremely likable and the members sound like they were having a blast. The inclusive parts where the members were singing together were my favourite and just made everything more wholesome. An easy 10/10 and great ender to this album. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10